Name: #Dark and Quiet Skies for Science and Society
Start: 2025-12-09T09:00:00+01:00
End: 2025-12-12T18:00:00+01:00
Location: United Nations, Vienna, Austria

#Dark and Quiet Skies for Science and Society

from Tuesday, 9 December 2025 (09:00) to Friday, 12 December 2025 (18:00)

Monday, 8 December 2025
Tuesday, 9 December 2025

09:00 Registration and coffee/tea
Registration and coffee/tea
09:00 - 10:00
Room: Boardroom D

10:00 Welcome
Welcome
10:00 - 10:30
Room: Boardroom D

10:30

10:30 - 10:50
Room: Boardroom D

10:50 Keynote - International Astronomical Union
Keynote - International Astronomical Union
10:50 - 11:05
Room: Boardroom D

11:05 Keynote - International Telecommunication Union
Keynote - International Telecommunication Union
11:05 - 11:20
Room: Boardroom D
11:20 Session 1 - impact assessment after 3 years of observations - Meredith Rawls (University of Washington/Vera C. Rubin Observatory, USA) Ammar Eissa Mohammed Abdulla (Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology, UAE) Gregory Hellbourg (California Institute of Technology, USA) Cui Chenzhou (National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences) Piero Benvenuti (Chair - Director of IAU Centre for Protection of Dark and Quiet Skies (CPS))
Session 1 - impact assessment after 3 years of observations
- Meredith Rawls (University of Washington/Vera C. Rubin Observatory, USA)
- Ammar Eissa Mohammed Abdulla (Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology, UAE)
- Gregory Hellbourg (California Institute of Technology, USA)
- Cui Chenzhou (National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
- Piero Benvenuti (Chair - Director of IAU Centre for Protection of Dark and Quiet Skies (CPS))
11:20 - 12:45
Room: Boardroom D
12:45 Pitch - impact assessment - Narae Hwang (Korea Astonomy and Space Science Institute) Ericsson López Izurieta (Quito Astronomical Observatory, Ecuador) Biruk Abte (Space science and geospatial institute, Eithiopia)
Pitch - impact assessment
- Narae Hwang (Korea Astonomy and Space Science Institute)
- Ericsson López Izurieta (Quito Astronomical Observatory, Ecuador)
- Biruk Abte (Space science and geospatial institute, Eithiopia)
12:45 - 13:00
Room: Boardroom D
13:00 Lunch
Lunch
13:00 - 14:00
Room: Cafeteria
14:00 Session 2 - status of astronomers mitigation actions - Beatrice Kioko (Chair - European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO)) Constance Walker (IAU CPS and NSF NOIRLab, USA) Olivier Hainaut (ESO) Erick Meza Quispe (Peruvian Space Agency CONIDA) Nicolas Cerardi (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Switzerland) Federico Di Vruno (SKAO)
Session 2 - status of astronomers mitigation actions
- Beatrice Kioko (Chair - European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO))
- Constance Walker (IAU CPS and NSF NOIRLab, USA)
- Olivier Hainaut (ESO)
- Erick Meza Quispe (Peruvian Space Agency CONIDA)
- Nicolas Cerardi (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Switzerland)
- Federico Di Vruno (SKAO)
14:00 - 15:15
Room: Boardroom D
15:15 Pitch - mitigation actions - Sarah Thiele (Princeton University, USA) Stanislav Karpikov (StealthTransit Laboratories, Germany) Nacera Bekhadda (Algerian Space Agency)
Pitch - mitigation actions
- Sarah Thiele (Princeton University, USA)
- Stanislav Karpikov (StealthTransit Laboratories, Germany)
- Nacera Bekhadda (Algerian Space Agency)
15:15 - 15:30
Room: Boardroom D
15:30 Break
Break
15:30 - 16:00
Room: CO4
16:00 Pitch - other activities impacted - Ruskin Hartley (DarkSky International, USA) Vachik Khachatryan (Space42, Armenia)
Pitch - other activities impacted
- Ruskin Hartley (DarkSky International, USA)
- Vachik Khachatryan (Space42, Armenia)
16:00 - 16:10
Room: Boardroom D
16:10 keeping a balance to preserve social and cultural use of dark and quiet skies
keeping a balance to preserve social and cultural use of dark and quiet skies
16:10 - 17:40
Room: Boardroom D

17:40 Wrap-up and information for Day-2 & ADJOURN
Wrap-up and information for Day-2 & ADJOURN
17:40 - 18:00
Room: Boardroom D
Wednesday, 10 December 2025

09:30 Coffee/tea
Coffee/tea
09:30 - 10:00
Room: Boardroom D

10:00 satellite constellations
satellite constellations
10:00 - 10:20
Room: Boardroom D
10:20 Session 3 - satellite constellation projects review - Ilsa Mroz (Planet, USA) Natalia Vicente (Chair & Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA)) Thibaut Maury Micolier (Secure connectivity and space surveillance Unit, European Commission) Xu Yanbin (China Satellite Network Group Co., Ltd)
Session 3 - satellite constellation projects review
- Ilsa Mroz (Planet, USA)
- Natalia Vicente (Chair & Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA))
- Thibaut Maury Micolier (Secure connectivity and space surveillance Unit, European Commission)
- Xu Yanbin (China Satellite Network Group Co., Ltd)
10:20 - 11:05
Room: Boardroom D
11:05 Session 4 - role of academia and governmental organisations to foster mitigation actions - Jan Siminski (European Space Agency) Jessica Dempsey (Chair & Director of the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)) Funmilola Oluwafemi (National Space Research and Development Agency, Nigeria) Roohi Dalal (American Astronomical Society, USA) Astha . (University of Surrey, UK)
Session 4 - role of academia and governmental organisations to foster mitigation actions
- Jan Siminski (European Space Agency)
- Jessica Dempsey (Chair & Director of the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON))
- Funmilola Oluwafemi (National Space Research and Development Agency, Nigeria)
- Roohi Dalal (American Astronomical Society, USA)
- Astha . (University of Surrey, UK)
11:05 - 12:05
Room: Boardroom D
12:05 Pitch - looking to the future and learning from other sectors - Kristina Vukosavljević (Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands) Stefan Wallner (Slovak Academy of Sciences) Megan Perks (University of Southampton, UK)
Pitch - looking to the future and learning from other sectors
- Kristina Vukosavljević (Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands)
- Stefan Wallner (Slovak Academy of Sciences)
- Megan Perks (University of Southampton, UK)
12:05 - 12:15
Room: Boardroom D
12:15 Group picture
Group picture
12:15 - 12:30
Room: Rotunda

12:30 Lunch
Lunch
12:30 - 13:30
Room: Cafeteria

13:30 satellite industry mitigation: who tried what?
satellite industry mitigation: who tried what?
13:30 - 15:00
Room: Boardroom D
15:00 Pitch - industry mitigation actions - Ryan Moodie (35 Northumbria, UK) Andrew Lawrence (University of Edinburgh, UK) Agnieszka Sybilska (Sybilla Technologies)
Pitch - industry mitigation actions
- Ryan Moodie (35 Northumbria, UK)
- Andrew Lawrence (University of Edinburgh, UK)
- Agnieszka Sybilska (Sybilla Technologies)
15:00 - 15:15
Room: Boardroom D
15:15 Break
Break
15:15 - 15:45
Room: CO4
15:45 Session 5 - Interactions astronomers, industry and regulators: lessons learnt - Siegfried Eggl (University of Illinois-Champaign, Austria/USA) Mamantha Maheshwarappa (Chair & UK Space Agency) Tebogo Mashile (Department of Science Techonology and Innovation, South Africa) Audrey Allison (Aerospace Corporation, USA) Joan Chepkemoi (Kenya Space Agency)
Session 5 - Interactions astronomers, industry and regulators: lessons learnt
- Siegfried Eggl (University of Illinois-Champaign, Austria/USA)
- Mamantha Maheshwarappa (Chair & UK Space Agency)
- Tebogo Mashile (Department of Science Techonology and Innovation, South Africa)
- Audrey Allison (Aerospace Corporation, USA)
- Joan Chepkemoi (Kenya Space Agency)
15:45 - 16:45
Room: Boardroom D
16:45 Interactions astronomers/industry: gaps identified and proposals
Interactions astronomers/industry: gaps identified and proposals
16:45 - 17:55
Room: Boardroom D

17:55 Wrap-up and information for Day-3
Wrap-up and information for Day-3
17:55 - 18:00
Room: Boardroom D

18:00 Networking reception
Networking reception
18:00 - 19:30
Room: Mozart Room
Thursday, 11 December 2025

09:30 Coffee/Tea
Coffee/Tea
09:30 - 10:00
Room: CO4

10:00 Outer Space Treaty high-level principles
Outer Space Treaty high-level principles
10:00 - 10:20
Room: Boardroom D
10:20 Session 6 - regulatory initiatives started at national level: status and lessons learnt - Marieta Valdivia (IAU CPS Policy Hub, National Analysis Group) Hafiz Umer Hameed Khan (Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO)) Marcelo Colazo (Argentina National Commission on Space Activities (CONAE)) Eduardo Unda-Sanzana (Universidad de Antofagasta, Director of the Astronomy Center (VITEVA), Chile) Yana Yakushina (IAU CPS Policy Hub, National Analysis Group) Andrew Macpherson (Chair, SKAO) Nompucuko Nontombana (Independent Communications Authority of South Africa)
Session 6 - regulatory initiatives started at national level: status and lessons learnt
- Marieta Valdivia (IAU CPS Policy Hub, National Analysis Group)
- Hafiz Umer Hameed Khan (Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO))
- Marcelo Colazo (Argentina National Commission on Space Activities (CONAE))
- Eduardo Unda-Sanzana (Universidad de Antofagasta, Director of the Astronomy Center (VITEVA), Chile)
- Yana Yakushina (IAU CPS Policy Hub, National Analysis Group)
- Andrew Macpherson (Chair, SKAO)
- Nompucuko Nontombana (Independent Communications Authority of South Africa)
10:20 - 11:40
Room: Boardroom D
11:40 achieving success at COPUOUS: lessons learnt
achieving success at COPUOUS: lessons learnt
11:40 - 13:00
Room: Boardroom D

13:00 Lunch
Lunch
13:00 - 14:00
Room: Cafeteria
14:00 Pitch: IAC 2026 - Nazmelis Zengin (IAC)
Pitch: IAC 2026
- Nazmelis Zengin (IAC)
14:00 - 14:05
Room: Boardroom D
14:05 Session 7 - Proposals and schedule of preparation until STSC/COPUOS 2026 - Rafael Moro Aguilar (Florida International University, USA/Spain) Aaron Boley (University of British Columbia, Canada) Federico Di Vruno (Chair, SKAO) Tarcisio Bakaus (ANATEL National Telecommuniations Agency of Brazil) Richard Green (University of Arizona/International Astronomical Union and Group of Friends of the Dark & Quiet Sky, USA) Giuliana Rotola (International Astronomical Union CPS Policy Hub Co-Lead)
Session 7 - Proposals and schedule of preparation until STSC/COPUOS 2026
- Rafael Moro Aguilar (Florida International University, USA/Spain)
- Aaron Boley (University of British Columbia, Canada)
- Federico Di Vruno (Chair, SKAO)
- Tarcisio Bakaus (ANATEL National Telecommuniations Agency of Brazil)
- Richard Green (University of Arizona/International Astronomical Union and Group of Friends of the Dark & Quiet Sky, USA)
- Giuliana Rotola (International Astronomical Union CPS Policy Hub Co-Lead)
14:05 - 15:15
Room: Boardroom D
15:15 Break
Break
15:15 - 15:45
Room: CO4

15:45 looking forward to STSC-2026
looking forward to STSC-2026
15:45 - 16:45
Room: Boardroom D

16:45 End of workshop
End of workshop
16:45 - 17:00
Room: Boardroom D
Friday, 12 December 2025

09:00 SCENARIO: "2031: A (Near Earth) Space Odyssey" - FULL AGENDA & SCENARIO AVAILABLE IN THE LEFT COLUMN 'FRIDAY'S SCENARIO'
SCENARIO: "2031: A (Near Earth) Space Odyssey" - FULL AGENDA & SCENARIO AVAILABLE IN THE LEFT COLUMN 'FRIDAY'S SCENARIO'
09:00 - 16:00
Room: CO4, Boardroom D, Workshop rooms.